"In my budget, I spend a very high percentage on education because I believe that education will bring us out of poverty," Prabowo stated at the summit, as monitored in a video uploaded to the YouTube channel of the Presidential Secretariat.
While addressing G20 leaders, he emphasized that combating hunger and poverty is a vital national imperative for nations like Indonesia.
In addition to education, the president highlighted the strategic importance of the government's Free Nutritious Meals program for children, describing it as a crucial weapon in the nation's battle against hunger and poverty.
"Free meals for our children is a vital part of our strategy. This is also part of empowering our young to be able to grasp the benefits of education," he remarked.
Related news: Ministry proposes additional budget for 2025 education programs
President Prabowo expressed optimism that the government would be able to overcome the issue of hunger in Indonesia, with 25 percent of Indonesian children currently struggling with hunger every day.
Furthermore, Prabowo echoed his commitment to addressing food shortages within three years, achieving food self-sufficiency within four years, and contributing to the global alliance to combat poverty and hunger within the next five years.
In the 2025 state budget, the education budget is set at Rp724.3 trillion (around US$45.7 billion).
As one of the steps to develop exceptional future generations, President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka initiated the Free Nutritious Meals program as one of the work programs for their 2024–2029 tenure.
The government formed the National Nutrition Agency in August 2024 to support the program's implementation.
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Translator: Mentari Dwi, Raka Adji
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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